The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-15
aIN AN ACE OF HIS LIFE"
A Game of Poker Which Accounts for
a Familiar Phrase.
Correspondence Mem York Clipper.


Correspondence Netr York Clipper
Several years ago was travelling for
well known house on a commission only, al
though my expenses were paid. At the time
was almost desperate for the want of
money. To add to my woes my wife was
very sick, and the recent death of my
mother had taken every cent / had saved to
pay for her funeral expenses My last trip
had been a Wretched one. and | had sold
only one small bill of goods. At the same
time had made large collections for the
firm on old accounts.
In my wallet | had little over 81 goo
belonging to the firm. Early in the evening
| had taken several drinks to cheer me up,
and when, little later, q game of poker
was proposed, / willingly made one of the
party, recklessly feeling that if l lost my
s25 / would not be much worse off. We
started in at 81 ante and a SO limit, and,
having good luck, soon ran my small stake
up to $780, Meantime the game grew hot
ter and the limit had been raised to $50,
while the ante grew proPortionately. All
the players except myself We're men able TO
lose 81 600 and never wink even; but of
course they did not knowmy own straitened
circumstances.
IAN hour after midnight we agreed to
play farewell jackpot and quit Each
HAL put up SOO, WHICH nauo tne pot sou
to start with, as there were five of US Ths
cards were dealt several times, and none of
us had openers At last the man ahead of
me and next to the dealer opened the pot for
$50 note. looked at my cards and found
three aces, but simply stayed, not wishing
to drive the others out. The player on my
left, the richest man of the party saw the
opening bet and raised another fifty The
next two dropped out and the opener simply
II . 4 4
| hesitated, for was in frightful guam
dairy Ny own funds were not sufficient to
enable me to call, and until that moment |
had never thought of using the firms funds.
From dreadful mental struggle | was
recalled to the fact that must do some
thing, by the dealer saying, Come, come, x!
Say something. want to help the cards
and go to bed In a moment l formed
plan which meant either ruin or brighter
hopes. unbuttoned my coat, and, draw
ing out the wallet with the firms money i'll
it, l laid $50 of my employers money on
the table. 1t was the supreme moment of
my life; it was my first dishonest act-if
boyish thefts on orchards don't count-yet
was as cool as | had ever been in my exist
ence. The opener drew two cards, and,
knowing had him beaten, /, too, took two.
The third man took none. His standing pat
made me shudder, for l was now looking
OusnOIOT III tHe lace. L ne original opener
scanned his cards carefully, and then, in
confident manner, bet $50. That he had
filed l was morally certain but, having
gone too far to recede, | called him, me-
chemically, without even looking ut my
draw. Fifty dollars more than your said
the player next to me. The opener hest
tated, and then simply called the last raise.
Hopelessly | looked at my draw. The first
card was the two-spot of hearts, and with a
feeling of despair looked at the next. 1t
was an ace of spades. | knew | had drawn
to the ace of clubs and the two red aces.
The revulsion of feeling made me faint, and
| hastily gulped down q glass Of seltzer near
me. My knees knocked together under the
table, but managed to get out hundred
dollar bill and announce that raised the
pot 500 more. The pat man Immediately
raised me $50. The opener now laid down
his hand, reInarking that he had no further
business in the deal My single opponent
looked me over carefully and said:
"'You can bet me $3.50, if you want to,
allowing me the privilege of like raise
bet him the full $3.50, and he promptly
raised me like sum- / saw this bet and
went $3.50 harder. My opponent hesitated,
and then said good-naturedly:
Enough is as good as a feast, and
won't press you too hard; so I'll CALI
AT the same time he laid down four
queens and reached for the pot. When |
showed my four aces he was the most sur
prised man you ever saw, but without a
word he arose from the table and left the
room. | never touched a card again. for /
had determined to kill myself had | lost